Billinghay pool secures future with new lifeguard training
A village pool near Sleaford has just hosted its first ever lifeguard training course
The move will see it secure the pool’s future and guarantee seven local young people employment for the next two years.
Some of the other participants in the course are off to use their qualifications at other local pools too.
Sam Bryant, a trustee at Billinghay Community Swimming Pool, said 18 people set out on Monday, August 24 to complete the intensive, six-day course involving a lot of pool time and classroom learning concluded with a final exam.
She explained that when the pool’s new Trustees took over at an extraordinary general meeting in November 2025, lifeguard training was something they felt very passionately about. With thanks to the Asda Foundation and NFU mutual funding that dream has become a reality.
Sam said: “Working closely with Jubilee Park and Blackwood Collective Training, a fantastic relationship with our pool neighbours has grown and grown in 2026.
“This truly means in 2027 we are good to go. We already had a fantastic team of lifeguards who have worked so hard in 2026 to keep everyone safe, but some will be moving on, which is the nature of the age and qualification, so it's vital we keep offering this course for our local young people.
"Water safety and confidence is something all pools take great pride in and reading some very sad events that have happened this year makes us more determined than ever to have our pool at the highest standards. We are already planning our 2027 course to ensure we have more young people in place into 2029 and that's thanks to NFU.
"Anyone who is 16 or above at the time of the course currently planned for the beginning of July can add their name to our list by emailing the pool on [email protected]”
Thanks in no small part to the summer of heatwaves, the pool has seen over 9,000 visitors this season and they are opening with warm water until the end of September and then into cold water swims in October.
" It's been an incredible season and we are so thankful to the community near and far that have supported the pool this year,” added Sam.